[oscarvan]

Good luck. Starting a business is tough, very tough. I hope you succeed and that Dave will still be your friend.

[punatic]

As a certified wastewater treatment plant operator (aka a turd herder) I can tell for certain it is a creek not a lake... 

[Thirsty_Monk]

My advise would be check the US trademark database before you go further.
Trust on this.
Pick the name that does not conflict with anybody else.
It is pain to change your name later on.

[tschmidlin]

My advise would be check the US trademark database before you go further.
Trust on this.
Pick the name that does not conflict with anybody else.
It is pain to change your name later on.

Really good point, too many breweries get sued over really loose connections.

[phillamb168]

My advise would be check the US trademark database before you go further.
Trust on this.
Pick the name that does not conflict with anybody else.
It is pain to change your name later on.

When I started my business my accountant had me check the state business registration database, but not the national one. I believe that, depending on the scope of the business, you may be alright as long as you're unique in your state. IANAL.

[Thirsty_Monk]

Phill,
You are correct that name of your business has to be unique in your state.
On the other hand beer has a national market.
Even thou you never I tend to distribute outside of your state someone else with similar name might come to your state.
This is why you need to search federal trade mark database.

[punatic]

Good luck. Starting a business is tough, very tough. I hope you succeed and that Dave will still be your friend.

Wellll... It's not quite as bad as all of that.  It is a lot of work to start your first business, but the rewards are well worth the effort.  The toughest part is shaking off the employee mindset, and realizing that you are now in charge.  Success or failure is based on how motivated you are.  It takes a lot of self-disipline.

The good news is that each new business you start after the first one is much easier. 

Congrats on having the courage to give it a try!  I'm looking forward to having your beer!